HUnter_zero 58 Posted March 10, 2010 Report Share Posted March 10, 2010 Our hob keeps trying to go to the toilet all the time (number 2!!) Poor guy keeps straining, if you rub his belly he runs like mad to go to the toilet but again nothing seems to come out and if it does, only a small amount and very watery. He's booked in the vets tomorrow but I was wondering if anyone else has had such a problem with their ferrets. Poor guy had half his tail amputated due to a tumour late last year, he's eight years of age and I don't think it's fair to have invasive surgery if it's a hair ball, but I have a feeling that due to the amputation the cancer may have spread to his bowels, just don't know. (btw, we are not new to ferrets and have owned ferrets for over 12 years) Any ideas would be great. John Quote Link to post
Kay 3,709 Posted March 10, 2010 Report Share Posted March 10, 2010 Sounds like he has been in the wars ... i hope its nothing to serious .. keep us updated when the vets seen him Quote Link to post
HUnter_zero 58 Posted March 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2010 Sounds like he has been in the wars ... i hope its nothing to serious .. keep us updated when the vets seen him Sure will. We lost eight ferrets four years back due to heart worm, our vets don't really know much about war weasels, and so sometimes it's hard to actually get to the bottom of things. With the heart worm (which we traced back to slugs coming from the farm behind us), the ferrets started to cough, became lethargic, their paws started to swell. All due to their lungs trying to compensate for the damaged to their hearts. Sad times. Strange thing was one ferret wasn't effected at all but she had adrenal disease. We only have a jill and a hob now, got the jill to keep the hob company. Annoying really as I just spent £500 building the ultimate ferret hutch. John Quote Link to post
moses 5 Posted March 10, 2010 Report Share Posted March 10, 2010 Sounds like he has been in the wars ... i hope its nothing to serious .. keep us updated when the vets seen him Sure will. We lost eight ferrets four years back due to heart worm, our vets don't really know much about war weasels, and so sometimes it's hard to actually get to the bottom of things. With the heart worm (which we traced back to slugs coming from the farm behind us), the ferrets started to cough, became lethargic, their paws started to swell. All due to their lungs trying to compensate for the damaged to their hearts. Sad times. Strange thing was one ferret wasn't effected at all but she had adrenal disease. We only have a jill and a hob now, got the jill to keep the hob company. Annoying really as I just spent £500 building the ultimate ferret hutch. John sorry to hear about your poor ferret i would love to see the mansion though Quote Link to post
HUnter_zero 58 Posted March 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 10, 2010 Sounds like he has been in the wars ... i hope its nothing to serious .. keep us updated when the vets seen him Sure will. We lost eight ferrets four years back due to heart worm, our vets don't really know much about war weasels, and so sometimes it's hard to actually get to the bottom of things. With the heart worm (which we traced back to slugs coming from the farm behind us), the ferrets started to cough, became lethargic, their paws started to swell. All due to their lungs trying to compensate for the damaged to their hearts. Sad times. Strange thing was one ferret wasn't effected at all but she had adrenal disease. We only have a jill and a hob now, got the jill to keep the hob company. Annoying really as I just spent £500 building the ultimate ferret hutch. John sorry to hear about your poor ferret i would love to see the mansion though Posted pic's on other thread. Might be up for sale if we loose the poor hob tomorrow. 100% pure solid pine and top quality. Bit big (way OTT) for two ferrets. John Quote Link to post
Kay 3,709 Posted March 11, 2010 Report Share Posted March 11, 2010 Sounds like he has been in the wars ... i hope its nothing to serious .. keep us updated when the vets seen him Sure will. We lost eight ferrets four years back due to heart worm, our vets don't really know much about war weasels, and so sometimes it's hard to actually get to the bottom of things. With the heart worm (which we traced back to slugs coming from the farm behind us), the ferrets started to cough, became lethargic, their paws started to swell. All due to their lungs trying to compensate for the damaged to their hearts. Sad times. Strange thing was one ferret wasn't effected at all but she had adrenal disease. We only have a jill and a hob now, got the jill to keep the hob company. Annoying really as I just spent £500 building the ultimate ferret hutch. John John can i cross post this info about heartworm & slugs to a ferret forum as a warning to other members that ferrets can indeed contract it via slugs i also had a think about your poorly ferret & wonder if its compacted anal glands Quote Link to post
The one 8,493 Posted March 11, 2010 Report Share Posted March 11, 2010 Thats what it sounds like blocked glands what are you feeding your ferrets on mate ??? Quote Link to post
lorelei0922 2 Posted March 11, 2010 Report Share Posted March 11, 2010 its possible its something like an intestinal blockage... you said you didn't want to go with surgery etc... which is fair enough considering the old boys age and previous history... but there are a few "remedies" you could try that may shift a blockage.. hairball paste for cats/ ferrets vaseline about 1/2 teaspoon or so and pumpkin puree or other type of squash, but pumpkin is best these will help "grease" the insides and if it is a simple blockage it can help them pass it good luck at the vet! Quote Link to post
stealthy1 3,964 Posted March 11, 2010 Report Share Posted March 11, 2010 I had this problem with my hob, all it was, was a long piece of rabbit fur that was hanging from his butt, he passed it in the end, think he needed too judging by the smell :sick: Quote Link to post
ash_1991 2 Posted March 11, 2010 Report Share Posted March 11, 2010 sorry to hetre about that mate could u not try a little bit of human vaxative??? weres pics of the cage then mate cant find it? Quote Link to post
HUnter_zero 58 Posted March 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2010 John can i cross post this info about heartworm & slugs to a ferret forum as a warning to other members that ferrets can indeed contract it via slugs i also had a think about your poorly ferret & wonder if its compacted anal glands Hi Kay, sure you can. Vet had no idea and said to try laxatives. John Quote Link to post
HUnter_zero 58 Posted March 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2010 Thats what it sounds like blocked glands what are you feeding your ferrets on mate ??? Gilbertson & page dry ferret food ( DR John Merlin ferret food ). Jill eats the same with no problems. John Quote Link to post
HUnter_zero 58 Posted March 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2010 its possible its something like an intestinal blockage... you said you didn't want to go with surgery etc... which is fair enough considering the old boys age and previous history... but there are a few "remedies" you could try that may shift a blockage.. hairball paste for cats/ ferrets vaseline about 1/2 teaspoon or so and pumpkin puree or other type of squash, but pumpkin is best these will help "grease" the insides and if it is a simple blockage it can help them pass it good luck at the vet! Thanks for the info, vet gave us cat laxatives, three times a day and basically said if it don't work then thats about all he can do. Good bye another £35...£108 for the tail amputation Guess I shouldn't think of it like that but it's getting silly now. John Quote Link to post
HUnter_zero 58 Posted March 15, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2010 Well, just encase this happens to someone else's ferret... The cat laxatives made not difference, poor chap now has blood in his stools Another trip to the vets and another £25, this time an injection and oral meds. The vet suspects that he has inflammation of his bowels, if not a tumour and if this don't work I think a .410 but don't tell Mrs H_Z!! John Quote Link to post
moses 5 Posted March 15, 2010 Report Share Posted March 15, 2010 Sounds like he has been in the wars ... i hope its nothing to serious .. keep us updated when the vets seen him Sure will. We lost eight ferrets four years back due to heart worm, our vets don't really know much about war weasels, and so sometimes it's hard to actually get to the bottom of things. With the heart worm (which we traced back to slugs coming from the farm behind us), the ferrets started to cough, became lethargic, their paws started to swell. All due to their lungs trying to compensate for the damaged to their hearts. Sad times. Strange thing was one ferret wasn't effected at all but she had adrenal disease. We only have a jill and a hob now, got the jill to keep the hob company. Annoying really as I just spent £500 building the ultimate ferret hutch. John sorry to hear about your poor ferret i would love to see the mansion though Posted pic's on other thread. Might be up for sale if we loose the poor hob tomorrow. 100% pure solid pine and top quality. Bit big (way OTT) for two ferrets. John like me mines massive and ive only got two you never knoe when you might want more though. there is room to grow.lol Quote Link to post
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